Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Ex-minister says Barnett is a 'dictator'

There's an early touch of trouble in paradise for Western Australia's re-elected premier, Colin Barnett.

Bolstered by an increased majority and a massive mandate after the March 9 election, on the first day of WA's 39th parliament Mr Barnett's been challenged and chastised as a "dictator" by former Liberal minister Rob Johnson.

The rounding on the premier is being seen as a reminder of a few political realities from the ex-police minister he dumped during his previous term in office.

The 2012 sacking infuriated Mr Johnson, who said he'd been betrayed and later claimed Mr Barnett had privately endorsed him as a potential parliamentary speaker.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson defiantly nominated himself for the Speaker's chair against the government's choice, Michael Sutherland, and was seconded by MP Mick Murray.

In the ensuing ballot, Mr Sutherland won 33 votes to 26 - meaning at least four Liberal or National members voted against the premier's chosen candidate.

Mr Johnson said the look on the premier's face had been worth the trouble of the move against him and claimed he thought he might have had the numbers to pull off a shock.